Dem targets Pelosi wealth

Class warfare erupted in a House Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday, as Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s personal fortune was thrown in her face by a junior colleague angry about a proposal to freeze the pay of members of Congress.

Rep. Laura Richardson attacked Pelosi for endorsing the GOP-written pay freeze during a Tuesday caucus discussion of a possible Democratic amendment to the payroll tax cut, according to several sources who were in the room at the time. Both women are California Democrats.

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The sources disagreed on the exact wording of the unusually direct shot at the party leader, but Richardson’s sentiment was clear: Pelosi, whose net worthis at least $40 million, doesn’t need the money as much as some of her colleagues, and she should have consulted with them before deciding to protect the GOP-written pay freeze.

It was “something like, ‘Well I am sorry, Madam Leader, but some of us are not in the financial situation you are in,’” said one source.

Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) jumped in to contend that members should be willing to take a pay freeze as part of a bill that is blocking raises for other federal civilian workers.

But sources said it was one of the most tense intraparty exchanges in recent memory.

“Pelosi was so pissed off,” said one senior Democratic aide. “Richardson looked like a buffoon, like ‘I need my money.’”

According to at least one Democratic insider, Richardson eventually said she would support the Democratic proposal.

Richardson’s office declined to comment at press time.

In fact, Richardson does need the money. She’s one of the poorest members of Congress, with debt that appear to outstrip her assets, according to her most recent financial disclosure form. Pelosi, by contrast, routinely ranks among the most wealthy lawmakers.

Richardson faces an Ethics Committee probe into allegations she and her top aides allegedly pressured other staffers to work on her reelection campaign or be fired. Staffers on the congressional payroll are prohibited from working on political campaigns while they are on the government clock.

In addition, under House ethics rules and federal law, government resources cannot be used for any campaign-related activities.

Richardson has denied any wrongdoing, but this probe, as well as an earlier Ethics Committee investigation into her personal finances and a foreclosed home, have cost her hundreds of thousands in legal fees. Richardson currently is carrying a personal debt of at least $150,000 to her defense attorneys, and her reelection campaign owes an additional $125,000-plus, according to recent reports.